Rosemary Russell

Rosemary Ann Russell, age 89 of Oxford left this world to be with Jesus peacefully in her sleep at Divine Rehab and Nursing in Lodi on Saturday, December 30, 2023.  Rosemary was born in rural Portage (Fort Winnebago Township) on June 17, 1934 the daughter of William and Isabella (Smith) Miller.  She was a student of the Class of 1952 in Portage.  After Rosemary left high school, she worked at C.J. Berst Cheese Plant, while there she met the love of her life.  This was the second time for her as she rode the same school bus with him for two years.  Rosemary married Stuart Russell on July 11, 1953; they spent 70 years together. 

During their 70 years, she was a homemaker for the first 8 years.  In 1958, they moved to Oxford from Portage to start their own business.  Together she worked side by side with her husband at Russell’s Meat Processing from 1958 to 1997. They sold it in 1997 to their daughter and her husband.

Rosemary loved to travel, and they were able to get to Germany, Austria, England, Scotland, Alaska, Japan and also spent several winters in Arizona.

Rosemary was blessed with four children: Stuart Jr. (Wanda), Sandra Lee (James) Krombach, Brian (Peggy) and Sherry Rose (Ken Kruithof) Russell as well as nine grandchildren:  Nathan, Carrie (Dan), Jason, Kari Lee (Dennis), Ashley (Don), Michael (Stephanie), Trevan, Brittany (Dan), Benjamin, Charlie and Kendall.  She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, one sister, Wanda (Robert) Williams along with two brothers:  Gerald Miller and William Miller as well as other extended family members.

Rosemary is preceded in death by her parents, brother, Dale Miller and two sisters: Delores (Wallace) Ingraham and Dorothy (Floyd “Buck”) Lamphear and sister-in-law, Jeanette Miller.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Briggsville.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the hour of mass.  Father Randy Timmerman will preside and inurnment will follow the service in the parish cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the family for a memorial that will be established in Rosemary’s name.

Rosemary’s family expresses its deep gratitude to all the Health Care Providers and Agrace Hospice for their compassionate and professional care shown to her as her health declined over the last several months.

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Oxford and Montello is honored to be serving the family.  www.CrawfordFH.com